"Econom[ies] have grown substantially and at the same time we've been saying we're doing all sorts of different things to address climate change and reduce emissions," he said.

"So it comes a little as a shock when you look at the measurements and compare what happened in 1990 and what has been happening in 2000 is so strikingly different."

The report found Australia's fossil fuel emissions have grown by 2 per cent each year since 2000.

GCP co-chair and CSIRO scientist Dr Michael Raupach says Australia is unique among developed countries because its emissions are rapidly growing.

"For Australia to achieve a 2020 fossil fuel emissions target 10 per cent lower than 2000 levels - the target referred to by Professor Garnaut this month - we would require a reduction in emissions from where they are now by 1.5 per cent per year," he said.

"Every year of continuing growth makes the future reduction requirement even steeper."